Reaching back into my photo archives, I ran across this project that me and my daughter did together. It was a “Love Notes” book project courtesy of Ali Edwards. You can find the project instructions and free downloadables HERE.

It required a little printing, a little cutting, a little sewing, a little gluing and a dose of patience too.

But we had so much fun working on this craft project together. Robert must have liked receiving it too. He has it placed in his box of “special keepsakes” that consists of mostly lovey dovey things I’ve made or written to him. It’s not too late to do this project yourself. You probably have the materials already needed on hand

Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.  Many of you may be aware Deb and I have an online store at CreativeChics.com. Recently she had finished up several new napkins patterns and brought them over for a photo shoot utilizing some of my dinnerware that would help pick up the colors of the napkin fabrics.

So today I don’t have a tablescape for a meal but thought you might feel a touch of spring from some of these beautiful new designs and photos.

The beautiful flower pot in these photos is another story…take an old clay pot glue some moss to the outside of the pot for a beautiful old aged look…fill it with flowers, in this case pink anemone’s and you have a marvelous arrangement that just keeps getting prettier with age.

Surely these are giving you spring fever, they sure did me….

Here are just a few others, she did a super job of getting wonderful spring colors and I can’t wait to use some of them, after all they match my dishes:)

Orange the new “hot” color…is too retro for me…. but these are beautiful.

Spring Fever, yes I have it.

How about you?

Check out all of the beautiful tablescapes at Susan’s it is time well spent.  If you like Deb’s napkins there are more at CreativeChics.com.

Oh yes, it is obvious Valentine’s Day is around the corner. I know it’s a sappy holiday where lots of people (especially men) feel pressured into being romantic. I for one love this holiday because it gives me a chance to tell the people  in my life how much I love them, because sometimes in this hectic day to day life we live we forget to convey that little message to the people we love the most.

So here’s just sharing some of the eye candy I’ve seen around

Twig and Thistle has a free printable download that you can create your own Valentine gift bags. Super cute, super easy too.

Then there is Jack’s Daughter with this 1950’s style Rockabilly Candy Heart dress (I just learned what rockabilly was this weekend when my daughter asked if I’d make her one of these type of dresses. I was like rock-a-what??? I’m feeling so old when it is obvious I don’t know the younger generation’s language.

Or how about this craft project from Kaboose that you could do with the kids. Click on the link to get the step by step directions.

Handmade hair bows for little girls have come a LONG way from what I used to put in my daughter’s hair to keep it out of her face. Now they are a major fashion statement for these little fashionistas.

And one last one because I do find the artwork on this card A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E….from Kindred Knits.

Do any of you have something special you are doing for Valentine’s this year? Robert will be in Phoenix with Kevin this Valentine’s Day (playing golf no less) so I’ll spend this lovey dovey holiday all by lonesome myself, probably with a good chick flick and a bowl of popcorn and M&Ms. I think of it as me giving myself a little love

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, hosted by the ever talented and delightful hostess, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

This week I finally had the opportunity to use my two place setting dishes of GORGEOUS chocolate brown, cream and greens. I picked them up at Marshall’s Home Goods a few months ago and haven’t had a chance to use them yet.

At one point I thought it would soon just be me and Robert at home in the evenings. No need to have tons of place settings when there is just the two of us. Ironically it has been a rare occasion that we’ve actually had the evening to ourselves of late! That’s a long story for another time.

See the small leaf bread plates? Too cute!

What to fix when it is just us two? Oh something healthy like a nice garden salad and fish of some sort since Kevin is not so fond of it. We always eat it when he is gone So grilled salmon with balsamic glaze and a side of grilled asparagus. Mmmmm good! Sorry, no leftovers to share.

Thanks for joining us this week. Have a fabulous weekend!!!!

The 96″ tie I turned and told you about yesterday….  Today you are in for a treat of treats…  Please hold the applause until the end

The apron is finished and I cannot resist showing you pictures, not because the apron is so swell….but the model…she is super, fantastic, fun, beautiful, and I am so glad I can call her my daughter.

Now you have to admit she is absolutely gorgeous!!!!  Not because of her attire but inside and out.

Get a load of this one I took while she was trying to give me instructions…

Now that was a shot we laughed about and loved…. We had so much fun.  She came prepared with white clothing knowing it would show well with any of the aprons she was modeling for me and get a load of those heels….I think my comments were, “where did you get those gorgeous shoes”, her answer to those kinds of questions is always a beautiful smile, and “I don’t remember.”

Check these out…

Now who could resist a cookie from that girl?

Then she really got domestic on me and wanted the swiffer, not like she is really cleaning folks, just having fun with me…I have to admit she definitely entertained me…  And you want to see the model’s shoes for this outfit..

It didn’t matter what we put on her, she looked great in everything…beautiful little girls are like that..

A wife and Mother to the nth degree with four beautiful children, a grandmother to one, a retired Sprint Director, former Hallmark computer wizard, a tech savvy lifesaver to the whole family, loves family, friends, home and garden, and most of all a special friend to her Mother….

I know all of you who have girls no doubt think they are the most beautiful but my three girls….they are so gorgeous, so special and I am so proud of all of them…  Thanks for letting me boast a little…

I’ll start off by first apologizing for my lack of makeup and that unsmiling face. Taking your own impromptu picture is trickier than it looks.

Why was I taking my photo? I wanted to show you the neck wrap my Mom made me for Christmas this year. It keeps you so warm and right now we need warmth here.

It is hand crocheted with buttons sewn on. Warm and cozy and something very special about a handmade gift that I love.

Happy Sunday!

One of the best splurges I ever made for myself is buying a photo frame that holds lots of photos and is decent size. I keep a folder on my PC called “digital frame”. Every time I take pictures, I select a few of my favorites to put in the folder.

Then every so often I update the frame and all my pictures are already ready to go. You’ll find family photos galore; but you’ll also find lots of pictures like this:

Or this:

Or this:

Or this:

Ah, such pretty things to look at over and over again as they rotate through my personal picture show. Tell us how you take time to enjoy all the photos you take…scrapbook, slide shows, photo frame, printed pictures on your walls?

I know it is too early to be thinking about Spring. I mean, really, we have 2 feet of snow on the ground, an arctic blast settling in the next few days with temperatures below zero, and more snow on the way.

Well honestly I think it is the PERFECT time to think of Spring, kind of a mental vacation don’t you think?

So out come the gardening books and seed magazines, not so much for buying but for dreaming of warmer, more colorful days.

I was browsing online (did I tell you I’m an avid online shopper?) and ran across these adorable gift tags that keep on giving. You place them in soil, water them and they grow. I think they’d make adorable tags for Mother’s Day gifts this year! Made by Green Post.

Well if gardening isn’t your thing, but you still need a mental vacation, maybe this will help (Feel free to right click any of these photos and save as your screensaver!)

Recently I had an inquiry asking what are sack towels, what is the fabric like, do they wash easily?  It made me decide a little Sack Towel History might be enjoyable for everyone. Here are comments from AnnTheGram website in September, 2008.

“Flour sacks are originally from the old flour sacks and feed sacks.  Back in the 30s, women started utilizing the empty sacks and made clothing from them, dish towels, pillowcases, clothespin bags, etc.  Times were bad with the depression.  “Sack dresses” originated during this time period.  They came back in the 60s again too.  The women begged the manufacturers of chicken feed, horse feed, flour and sugar to please make the sacks softer to the touch and try to add some color to them.  Hence, the feedsack quilts of the 30s originated with beautiful colorful prints.  Win/win situation.  Chickens ate well and you had a purty new dress.

The sizing on these towels are irregular today because they are still holding true to what a grain sack was back when.  The grain sack was sewn on one side and bottom and then, the ladies removed the stitching and viola, 30 x 29 inches, etc.  In fact, if the stitching was left in place, it was a perfect, already made pillowcase.  Also, in the 30s, they saved the thread from the side seam and later used to hem any of the items.”

Think how many trees were saved with sack towels…guess that is another subject!  We love sack towels at Creative Chics, check out just a few of the new designs Deb and I have online at www.creativechics.com.

We hope all of you have had a wonderful holiday season and send our very best wishes for a 2010 full of love, joy and peace…

I am not sure I am ready for the holiday to end but reality tells me it is time to get some blog posts up for the month and let everyone know we are back in action.

Creative Chics had a phenomenal holiday online considering it was only six months into our venture.  I have only one designer fabric apron left in my inventory and have not taken time to count how many I made between November 1st and Christmas.  Deb sold Christmas bags like candy to kids.  We certainly appreciate everyone’s support and look forward to 2010 and showing off some new projects and designs.

These photos are sack towel embroidery designs that will be posted online today.  These vintage animals are adorable and towels can be personalized.

We made gifts for Christmas for family members that were so appreciated we decided to offer them online.

Here is an example of dog towels I made for my families pets.

Deb embroidered family initials on large spa sized bath towels that were a huge hit. 

We want to thank everyone again, family, friends and all the new friends we have made and look forward to a fun, fulfilling and very creative 2010.